Pipe-organ stool



Dec. 25-, H923. 1,478,567

' E. R. HOWARD PIPE ORGAN STOOL Filed May 25. 1921 amz m m 9km H M Ah ATTORNEY. I

Fatente Dec. 25, T1923.

. STATES EARL RALPH HOWARD, OIF DUBUQ'UE, IOWA.

PIPE-ORGAN STOOL.

Application filed May 25,

To all whom it may con-061%:

Be it known that I, EARL RALPH HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dubuque, in the county of Dubuque, and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Pipe-Organ Stool, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to organ stools for pipe organs, and aims to provide a novel and convenient support for one who plays an instrument of this kind. It is customary to make use of a bench for this purpose, and in order to reach the end pedals of the organ the player is called upon to change his position frequently, sliding from one end of the bench to the other as the occasion requires. The bench is located so far away from the keys of the organ, that in leaning forward to operate such keys the organist occasionally loses his balance, as a result of which he supports himself to some extent upon the keys, interfering with the perfect operation thereof. The organist must of necessity possess a considerable amount of agility, and the constant movement upon the bench has the effect of wearing his clothes out quite rapidly.

The chief purpose of the present invention is to provide a central support for the organist, from which all of the keys and pedals can be easily and quickly reached, without movement of the body, except a slight turning thereof in one direction or the other. Leg supports are provided which comprise sectional seat pieces, turning with the legs so as to permit free independent movements thereof, without friction between the seat and clothes of the player, and permitting the legs to be positioned with the knees immediately above the feet, so that the bottom of the shoe will be brought squarely upon the pedal. This eliminates the present uncertainty in the contact of the foot with the pedal, accompanied frequently by the slipping of the foot from the pedal.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a back support which will accommodate itself quickly to the varying positions of the operator.

Another feature of the device consists in having the supporting members adjustable vertically, so that the same can be made to conform to the height of the player. A similar arrangement is also provided for the back support. The parts can also be readily 1921. Serial No. 472,529.

separated, and packed into a compact space, for the purpose of transportation.

In the drawings y 1 shows the invention in side elevation.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 shows the same in plan view.

1 represents a stand, projecting'from the lower end of which is a pair of feet 2, the

stand and feet being preferably formed of tubular material, and the stand is bent forwardly and upwardly so as to bring the upper end thereof in line with a point midway the feet. Supported on the upper end'of the stand is a bearing 3, threaded internally to receive the similarly threadedportion of a stem 4:, upon the upper end of which is fixed a cross-piece 5. The lower end of such stem is movable in a collar 6 in the upper end of the stand 1, which assists in holding the stem in a vertical position. The .bearing 3,

is preferably supported by ball-bearings in the usual manner, to reduce the friction on the lower faceof such bearing as fully as possible. The stem 4: can be'locked from turning in the bearing 3 by means of a nut 3 on the threaded part of the stem.

Supported on the cross-piece 5, and having a pivotal connection therewith, as at a is a pair of seat sections 7, each provided on its lower face with a ball-race 8, concentrio with the pivot. On the upper face of the cross-piece 5 are corresponding ballraces 9, between which and the races 8 are series of balls, permitting movement of the parts 7 upon the cross-piece 5 with a minimum amount of friction. The upper faces of the sections 7 are preferably formed so as to conform to the body of the user, and each of such sections supports one of the legs of the player in an independent manner. In the movement of either leg in playing the pedals the corresponding section conforms at once to the movement, permitting the body to remain poised at a central point. The pivotal action of the bearing 3 permits the body to turn freely also, so as to follow the movement of the limb.

When in a position for use the legs 2 will project beneath the pedals of the organ, bringing the body of the organist above the forward ends of the pedals, from which point it is easy to manipulate the keys of the organ, besides being convenient for reaching the pedals themselves. It will be evident that by turning the stem 4 in the bearing 3 the seat can be raised or lowered,

clamp-plate 12, adapted to be rigidly held in place thereon by means of bolts 13 and thumb-nuts 14 thereon. Passing horizontally, through an' opening in said clampplate is a plate 15, capable of being held adjustably in position by means of a set-screw 16 mounted in the clamp-plate, and bearing against the upper face of the plate 15. Pivoted to the forward end of the plate 15, as at b, isa back-rest 17.

It will be obvious that when the organist turns his body in one direction or the other the position of the back-rest will conform thereto' Such back-rest can be adjusted vertically, to suit the height of the player, by moving the plate 12 up or down on the rods 11, as desired, and an adjustment of said back-rest toward and from the rods can be made by means of the adjustment screw 16. The rods 11 also possess suflicient resiliency to permit a yielding movement thereof rearwardly' when in use.

If'it is desired to store or transport the stool, it can be reduced to a compact space, by disconnecting the stem 4 from the stand,

and removing the back-rest by releasing the collar 10. The feet 2 can. also be attached to to the stand 1 in such a manner as to be readily detached therefrom, and again connected therewith.

The upper faces of the sections 7 are preferably covered with carpeting or similar material, to render the movement of such sections with the limbs of the operator more positive. V

l/Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: a

1. In a device of the class described, a

suitable stand; a seat'member revolubly mounted on said stand; a pair of elongated seat sections pivotally connected with said seat member near their rear ends, and capable of an independent swinging movement thereon; and ball bearing mechanism interposed between said sections and said seat member.

EARL RALPH HOWARD.

V 2. A device of the class'described, cor'n- 

